Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or Queen's Shadow. This arc is based in the universe of Star Wars and will reference a few events from the book, Queen's Shadow. This arc was inspired by a short, near throw away line in the summary of Queen's Shadow, a book I haven't actually read but have heard good things about. Rae is my creation and if you wish to use her in your own stories I'd appreciate being at least credited.
A/N: This story starts four years and about two and a half months after the events of The Phantom Menace. It is also the first chapter of an arc within The Phantasm Chronicles. Find the whole story there!
Chapter 29: Shadows and Slaves Part 1: Remembrance
The election of Naboo's new Queen was coming to a close, as was the term of Naboo's Senator. These political change overs meant little to the working class of Coruscant, though a few citizens exchanged opinions over mugs of caf and plates of varied cuisine. In one diner in the mid-level, not too far from the impressive structure of the Jedi Temple, a group of pilots swapped gossip over light tea that paired far better with their plate of the dinner's signature treat of Fresh Baked Shortbread than their usual dark caf. Dex's Diner was the only place these pilots had ever found the sweet, buttery cookies, and they'd been to a lot of diners. However, that wasn't the topic of their gossip that day. "Amidala is looking to be Naboo's senator, ya say?" one asked. Another, a swarthy looking Human, nodded.
"Aye. Heard the leading candidate for Queen was impressed with the girl's planet-side policies. Not to mention Amidala's got connections to the Gungans," he said.
"Ain't that 'cause of the blockade?" a Duros asked. The Human nodded, but it was the Twi'lek in their group that answered.
"Yes. Rumor has it she went to their leader and begged, on her knees, for his help. It amused him so much, he agreed to station his army in the path of the droids."
"Didn't she have a Gungan General in her entourage?" a second Human asked.
"Jar Jar wasn't a general at the time," the diner's only server, and allegedly the one behind the famous Shortbread cookies, remarked lightly as she replaced their empty tea pot. They blinked at her.
"How would you know?" the Twi'lek asked. She smiled at him.
"Simple. I was there," she said with a wink before sweeping away toward the kitchens as Dex, the owner and cook, called out the next order. The pilots exchanged surprised looks, then turned to watch the server. When they noticed she wasn't bustling about, they waved her over. "Can I get you anything else, or are you ready for the check?" she asked.
"No no, we were just curious," the first Human said. The server quirked an eyebrow. "You were there during the dispute with the Trade Federation?"
"Yes. I was part of the crew aboard the Queen's star cruiser," she answered, crouching to sit on her heels. "Master Jinn brought me into the city with him to search for parts to repair our damaged hyperdrive. We succeeded, but I got terribly sunburned. A diplomatic Nabooian space vessel does not carry proper clothing for traipsing around a desert. Especially one with two suns!"
"Wait wait... where did you land?!" the Duros asked.
"Tatooine," the server answered dryly. "Not a bad place... if you're properly attired and accustomed to the Nar Shaddaa way of life. I shouldn't have to tell you spacers the system is basically ruled by the Hutts," she answered, drawing nods from the pilots. "Anyway. We got what we needed and came to Coruscant. Pretty sure you know the bare bones of that, aye?"
"Yeah... the Queen called for a Vote of No-Confidence when the Senate shot her down, then threw a fit and flew off to take matters into her own hands. Dragged a pair of Jedi along for the ride too," the second Human said. The server scowled.
"Ugh, I hate the way the media spun that," she said, intriguing the pilots. "See, there's a snake in the Senate. Not a galaxy shaking revelation, I know, but that No-Confidence vote was a ploy to keep him from getting more political power. Amidala was made aware of the snake and asked me to pass a message to a couple of Senators, which ensured the vote failed. Vallorum still stepped down not too long after the whole Naboo Crisis, but that's another matter." The pilots shared befuddled looks. Was that really why the now-former Queen had called for the vote?
"What about the temper tantrum?" the Duros asked. The woman shook her head.
"Amidala was fourteen, under pressure, and in emotional agony over the plight of her people. Considering that, she was remarkably composed. There was no 'temper tantrum,' no 'fit.' She simply determined that if the Senate wouldn't help her people, she would. And the Jedi weren't dragged along. Everyone who went with her back to Naboo did so voluntarily. I went intending to merely be emotional support, not to mention I didn't have a place to stay on Coruscant at the time, but when Amidala went to plead her case to the Gungans..." she trailed off and shook her head with a wry smile. "Well. I ended up fighting the droids alongside the Gungans. As for Jar Jar being a General.. that is something I find amusing as the guy is clumsy as a three footed puppy. Though, I will admit, during a fight he manages to come out on top, pulling off stunts that logically shouldn't have worked." She paused and looked up toward the left in thought. "Actually... he might just be unconsciously using Drunken Fist techniques. It is an unorthodox method, but one can't argue with the effectiveness. Hum. Food for thought." She shook herself from her thoughts and stood. "Well. That's my story. Did you boys have any other questions?"
"No... I think I can understand why Naboo's new Queen is looking to make Amidala Naboo's new Senator now," the Twi'lek answered. The Server blinked.
"Padme's getting appointed Senator?" she asked, then chuckled. "Well, I can tell you she's gonna be great at it. That woman is a force of nature I tell you! Sweet and caring but stubborn as a mule!"
"Order up!" Dex called and the woman was gone before the pilots could do more than smile. Their conversation naturally changed topic a few times before they stood, paid their bill, flashed a few smiles toward the server, then left. As for the server, she could hardly wait for the end of the lunch rush so she could go on break.
/*/
It had been a busy, crazy, enlightening four years since she'd arrived in the Star Wars universe and Rae had managed to make something of a name for herself. Baker, server, bouncer, and trainer being just a few. These 'names' also made it very easy to collect information, though they hadn't let on that Padme was transitioning to Senator now. Not even her position as Friend to the young politician, and some highly influential Jedi, had brought her said information. Before she could call Padme, the politician called her. "Rae, the Queen has asked me to continue serving Naboo as her Senator," the young woman said. Rae smiled, even thought the woman couldn't see her.
"You'll do wonderfully, Padme," she said. "You were born for the world of politics."
"Thank you... but there's something I wanted to do now that my term as Queen is over," Padme said. Rae gave her an encouraging hum. "Shmi Skywalker and the other slaves on Tatooine... I want to do something to improve their lives. Preferably by freeing them but..."
"An entire planet's slave trade is a little difficult to wipe out. Especially when there's off-world slavers coming to do business. I understand," Rae finished, suddenly grim. She hadn't ventured far beyond the Core worlds, except for Kamino, and if there was literal slavery on those worlds, it was well hidden. "What do you plan to do for them as a Senator?"
"There's a mandatory six week orientation. I won't be able to act personally, but my former handmaiden Sabé has agreed to go to Tatooine on my behalf. She'll be looking for Shmi and doing what she can for the slaves she finds," Padme answered. Rae hummed, eyes darkening in thought. Realizing she still had Padme on the line, she shelved those thoughts to focus on the matter at hand.
"She's a brave woman," Rae said.
"She is indeed. I will miss her," Padme agreed.
"Do you still have friends in the Senate?"
"I... am unsure. Our ploy four years ago worked, but there were many who did not see what we hoped they would. My actions concerning the blockade did not win me many favors."
"Stay true to yourself and I don't doubt you will do well, Padme. You're kind, compassionate, and relentless when the situation calls for it. The other Senators will warm to you eventually," Rae said encouragingly. Padme sighed and Rae could just picture her deflating ever so slightly.
"I certainly hope you are correct. Without support, I will not be able to serve my people well at all."
"When are you scheduled to return to Coruscant?" Rae asked. Padme sighed.
"Within the week," she answered. Rae nodded sharply. Plenty of time to make her decision.
"Comm me when you're entering atmosphere and I'll meet you at the landing pad. Orientation doesn't start until the day after you arrive, correct?" she said. Padme laughed.
"Correct. What, you planning on spiriting me away for the night?" she asked. Rae laughed as well.
"You know me too well, Königin," she said. "See you in a week~!" Before Padme could say another word, Rae closed the channel and sighed. She had plans to make and an employer to talk to.
/*/
Dex was a jovial Besalsik with a checkered past that had, despite the ghosts in his past, settled down to run a respectable diner in the mid-levels of the massive planet-city of Coruscant. When he'd heard Qui-Gon Jinn had died fighting to free Naboo, it had been a hard blow but not one he couldn't weather. The hollow look in young Obi-Wan's eyes when he delivered the news however... that had wounded the chef. So, when that same young man had come to him, asking that a new friend of his be given a job Dexter Jetster couldn't say no and smoother the hope in his gray-blue eyes. That the woman was spunky and a hard worker was certainly a plus though. Over the last four years, she'd proved to be quite handy and a good investment with how quickly she learned everything put before her. Star fighters were notoriously tricky things to pilot, with most aspiring pilots opting for the safer and more sedate freighters, but she'd learned all Jazz had to teach her about piloting within a year and a half. She'd also brought new custom to his diner with her baking skills. So, when she came to him saying, "That was Padme, she's transitioning into being Senator. But that wasn't really why she was calling... I think? Anyway, she reminded me of a promise made four years ago. A promise I intend to see fulfilled. So what I'm getting as is... Dexter, can I take an extended vacation?" Dex could only smile and ask,
"How long are you planning to be gone?" Her answering smile was so worth the potential credit loss.
"I'm not too sure. I'll be heading to the Outer Rim after all, and traveling that far ain't cheap," she told him. "And then I'll have to accomplish more than a few tasks of varying difficulty." She paused and considered things, likely doing some rapid mental math. "Three to four months? Give or take?" she finally said. Dex nodded.
"I won't be able to pay you... but you'll have a job when you get back," he said. She gaped at him and he chuckled. "You're a good girl, Rae. And if this is important to you, then I don't want this to stop you." She beamed at him.
"I plan to leave next week. That should be enough time for me to ensure my apartment will still be there when I get back..."
"Are you traveling on your own?" Dex asked, wondering if he should dip into his old network. Rae shrugged.
"Sort of," she told him. "I'll be traveling on my own, but I'll have a friend I can contact. I trust her to not only keep up but to watch my back." Dex snorted, thinking that the only Humans who could actually keep up with her would be Jedi. Judging by the look she shot him, she had caught that thought. Which was part of why he didn't think a non-Jedi Human could keep up with her. Not only could she move at speeds beyond what most Humans were capable of, she had uncanny insight, could never be surprised, she could find seemingly anything she focused on, as long as she knew either it's name or what it looked like, could sense emotions, and it was impossible to lie to her face when she was fully focused on you. Very Jedi-like abilities in his humble opinion. "I'm no Jedi," she told him, for what may well have been the hundredth time.
"I know... but your abilities..."
"I'm what is known as a Mariisu, a variant of Human. Our flaws reside entirely within our character, not our skill. When it comes to charm and skill, any skill, there are no limits to what a Mariisu can eventually accomplish... given the time," Rae said, giving him a playful smile. Dex raising an eyebrow at her. That was the first she'd ever used that one, usually she just said that she was a force of nature or that it was just intuition, intimidation, and luck.
"A Mariisu?" he asked. Rae nodded.
"Yep. A roguish Mariisu martial artist, that's me!" she said with a grin before slipping out into the dining room. Dex sighed but accepted her explanation. Being a Mariisu made more sense than her being a standard Human after all.
/*/
Obi-Wan was tired. A thirteen, nearing fourteen, year old Anakin was... energetic. And emotional. He may have learned more about emotions and how to work through them instead of simply shoving them into the Force, it was exhausting dealing with another lifeform's emotions. So, he was quite pleased to note that it was a Sunday. "Anakin! Get cleaned up, we're leaving for Rae's in an hour!" he called.
"Wizard!" his Denshi called, dashing into his room to grab a change of clothes before sliding into the refresher. Obi-Wan chuckled softly, glad to have a moment of calm. Once Anakin was done, Obi-Wan gathered clothing of his own to take his turn in the refresher. The pair were clean and dressed well before the hour was up, but neither wanted to wait another twenty minutes and so left early. It turned out to be a good thing as the air lanes were heavily clogged and added an extra couple of minutes to their trip. The two nodded to the receptionist as they stepped into the elevator.
"What do you think Rae will make this time?" Anakin asked, bouncing on his toes.
"What do you want her to make?" Obi-Wan asked, turning it back on the teen. Anakin slowed to a stop, clearly thinking hard.
"Well, I like just about everything she cooks... but her rice noodles and sweet sauce is really good!" he finally said. Obi-Wan nodded his agreement. "What about you, Sensei?"
"I prefer her grilled fish and rice," he answered. Anakin stuck his tongue out at the boring answer, but couldn't deny their friend made good fish. And she fried the rice with eggs and veggies too! When they entered the apartment, they immediately noticed the frenzied atmosphere.
"Oh! Today was a Jedi Dinner Night?" Rae remarked, poking her head out of the hall closet. "Snap! Uh... give me a minute or thirty, okay?" she asked, swiftly springing to the kitchen. "Got any preferences? I, uh, kind of forgot about the time?" Obi-Wan quirked an eyebrow at her distraction.
"What are you planning?" he asked, looking toward the closet she'd been in moments prior. A rather large, sturdy, pack lay in the center of the doorway and a blanket appeared to have been dropped on it.
"A trip?" Anakin asked, apparently having noticed the pack as well.
"That... Can you hold on to your questions until after dinner?" Rae asked, sounding oddly resigned. The Jedi shared a look, shrugged, and moved to lean in the doorway to the kitchen.
"What are you making?" Anakin asked.
"Well, you two chose to question what I was doing before you got here instead of answering my question, so I'm making comfort food. Spaghetti and meatballs with green beans," she told the teen. "Instead of looming, why don't the two of you find a holo-film to watch or some tunes to meditate to or something?" she asked, the sound of her own music already beginning to filter out of the kitchen.
/*/
Half an hour later, the two Jedi were called out of their meditation to join their friend at the table. "Enjoy~!" Rae sang, passing out plates of noodles and sauce. Anakin beamed at her and dug in while Obi-Wan bobbed his head and began eating with a bit more dignity.
"Wow! This is good!" Anakin cheered.
"Have I never made you spaghetti before?" Rae asked, honestly puzzled. Obi-Wan shook his head and she sat back with a contemplative hum. "A little over four years and I never made you sketti? Odd. I know I've made it a few times for myself. Hum. Well, I'll make sure to fix it again when I get back."
"Back?" Anakin asked, looking up from his food with a questioning expression.
"Back from where?" Obi-Wan asked. Rae hummed again, then closed her eyes and sighed.
"While I'd like to be all mysterious and cryptic and keep you in the dark... there is something I'd like to ask of you. And Anakin has a right to know," she said. The Jedi leaned closer, now intensely interested in what she had to say. "Padme gave me a call, about three days ago. She reminded me of something. A promise that needed to be fulfilled," Rae said, turning to stare into Anakin's eyes. "At the end of the week... I'm going back to Tatooine, and I'm going to ensure your mother is free and happy." The teen gaped at her while Obi-Wan sat back with a small frown.
"Rae... you don't have the resources to both fly to Tatooine and buy Shmi's freedom," he said slowly. Rae gave him a wry smile.
"I never said I'd buy her freedom," she said. Anakin's eyes widened and he fell back in his seat, staring at her.
"You're going to free a slave on Tatooine, a Hutt controlled planet... through force?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper. Rae nodded.
"As Obi-Wan pointed out, I don't have the money to buy her free, so it's my only option... aside from gambling. Either course of action is risky, so..." she shrugged. "And if I'm going in prepared to bust her free... why not as many other slaves as I can with the three months I'll have on the planet before my 'vacation days' run out?"
"Are you mad?" Obi-Wan asked. Rae chuckled and stood to gather their empty plates.
"Maybe," she allowed, "but the inherent danger is why I'd like to ask you a favor."
"What kind of favor?" Anakin asked.
"Promise me you'll tell my story. And not just to those who ask! Tell my story to the everyone. Tell it in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, in the middle of Dex's, in the lobby of 500 Repubica, to my 'mates, to Jazz, to any bartender who will sell you a drink. Spread the cause, raise awareness... if I die, I want you to use my death to rub the Order's collective faces in the scummy, filthy, darkness they've allowed to fester in the Outer Rim while they pat themselves on the back for 'maintaining peace and order throughout the Republic.' Use my death to plead the case of the Outer Rim to the Senate," she stopped and took a bite noodles as she composed herself. "If I die fighting for the slaves of Tatooine... I'll have died doing the job of a Jedi; 'defending and protecting those who cannot do it for themselves.' So, if I die on this mission, I want the Order to know I was doing their job for them!" she ranted, a fire lighting in her eyes as her voice grew in strength, both Jedi caught off guard by the venom in her voice. The truth of what she was saying hit Obi-Wan like a kick to the chest. It was a Jedi's sworn duty to respect life in all its forms by defending and protecting those who couldn't, with force if necessary, and yet they had not known of the slave trade in the Outer Rim. And even now, after he and Qui-Gon had brought back a report of its existence... the Order had done nothing. Was doing nothing. "If I die out there, let me die a martyr, doing the work that everyone else has given up on. But, the dinner table is no place for sour thoughts and poisonous vitriol. Let us put this aside," Rae said. Obi-Wan could only gape at her as she brought her emotions back under control, her blazing passion stunning him with its power. She had made her position on the mantra of the Jedi Code quite clear on a number of occasions, and Obi-Wan had already begun to adjust his own mantra, but it was moments like this that lent her position weight. Throughout her impassioned rant her Force presence was almost purely Light, though a few tendrils of Darkness wove around her. It was... mesmerizing really. He huffed out a breath of fond amusement.
"Should you fail to return, I shall see to it a thorough investigation is launched and everyone knows the relevant details of your quest," he told her. She bared her teeth in a fierce grin before bowing to the pair.
"Thank you, my friends. I pray my mission is a success," she said. "Though... I won't be alone. One of Padme's former Handmaidens is going to be on the same mission. Honestly, I'm not sure who is who's backup in this endeavor."
"Who said one had to be backup?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Yeah! You could be partners!" Anakin chimed. Rae gave him a wry smile before closing her eyes and shaking her head.
"One more promise, from the both of you," she said softly.
"What is it, Rae?" Obi-Wan asked. She shook her head.
"You have to promise you'll keep what I reveal next a secret. From everyone. If knowledge of this gets out, even just to the Jedi Council, it could be bad," she said. The pair shared a look, then nodded.
"We promise, Rae," Anakin told her. She looked up and into his eyes with a near searing intensity.
"I mean it, Anakin Skywalker," she said, using his full name for perhaps the first time. "You must tell no-one. Not Yoda, not your mother, not even Padme."
"I promise, Rae Donna Mayar, I won't tell anyone," Anakin repeated.
"You can't even tell an astromech!" Rae stressed. The teen rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, giving her a deadpan look.
"I said I promise, Rae. And if there's one thing you've managed to teach me, its that promises are not made to be broken," he said heatedly. Rae smirked, then nodded.
"I've been doing a bit of spying and general information gathering for nearly two years. Blon and An'Quila have been training me in the tactics of the Jedi Shadow and Investigator, respectively." Obi-Wan wished he was surprised... but he really wasn't.
"You've been training to be a Jedi Shadow?" he asked. She gave him a wry smile.
"You know as well as I that such a title will never be mine... but yes. I've been training to be a mix of Jedi Shadow and Jedi Investigator. I don't work with law enforcement, though I might funnel some information their way, and plan to focus on the Dark and corrupt forces in Republic Space... so I suppose 'Shadow' fits more than 'Investigator,' hum?" Rae answered, giving the Jedi pair a weary smile. "What that means is... I've already begun to build up a persona and reputation for myself."
"Anyone I'd know?" Obi-Wan asked. She shrugged.
"It's possible," she answered. "Ever hear of Phantasm?" Obi-Wan blinked and sat up straighter.
"The shadowy information broker that never shows their face and speaks through a voice modulator when they decide to show up in person? That's you?!" he asked.
"Yes. I'm Phantasm," she said. "See why I had you promise not to tell anyone? It wouldn't just be bad... it'd hamstring me! And even if Phantasm gets a contract with the Republic and a 'job' in Republic Intelligence, no-one must know who is behind the mask."
"What about your ship? Claire is very unique. And everyone knows who owns her," Anakin, the pilot that he was, asked. Rae hummed, tapping her chin.
"I'd hate to give her up... and so far Phantasm has been able to remain anonymous and ambiguous enough to not be connected to a certain ship's presence," she said before rolling her eyes toward Anakin. "Did you have a suggestion?" she asked.
"Get a commercial craft," he said. "Something basic that we can upgrade later, with space for you to sleep and carry supplies. And a hyperdrive, so you don't have to use multiple ships."
"I leave at the end of the week, and I'm not flush," Rae said. "It's a good idea in the long run, I'll grant you that, but I'm going to have to either take Claire or a commercial transport for this particular mission."
"Leave it to me! I'll have your Phantasm Cruiser all sorted by the time you get back!" Anakin chirped, eyes flashing with anticipation.
"In that case, feel free to bring in Jazz. I trust him to keep secrets," Rae told him. "Make sure to keep it basic and uninteresting on the outside. And no specing for a Jedi! I don't want my ship to write any checks my reflexes can't cash."
"Please, I know better than that!" Anakin protested. Rae chuckled, only barely noticing the pensive look on Obi-Wan's face. Later, she would wish heartily that she'd paid more attention to the ginger diplomat. One should always be wary of the contemplative diplomat! Particularly when they are both famous and infamous for their gilded tongue.
/?/
A/N: So? What do you think? I did some research and the only 'old, two person fighter' I could find that seemed to remotely fit Rae was a Clarion from the Galactic War, over 3,600 years before the Battle of Yavin. Anything that old that managed to be well enough preserved to be remotely flight-worthy is going to be a one-of-a-kind craft and instantly recognizable. Not good for an infiltrator or information broker. And if she's going to be hopping all over an active war zone, chances are she's going to get shot down. How many ships did Anakin and Ashoka go through during the War?
